Business of the House

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 30th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. As right hon. and hon. Members will know, my normal practice is to call everyone in this session to put a question. However, today we have important matters appertaining to the Immigration Bill to consider and a pretty constrained timetable in which to do so. I cannot do anything about that, but it would help if we had brevity from Back and Front Benchers alike. I warn colleagues in advance that it might not be possible to accommodate everyone at business questions on this occasion because I have to take account of the next business.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

Will the Leader of the House, on behalf of the Government, take the opportunity to make a statement in defence and support of the Queen and the royal family, and the amazingly good value that they provide to the United Kingdom, and the territories and realms? Will he set out that any underfunding is due to a failure of Governments properly to fund the royal family, and dissociate himself from the disrespectful and unwarranted report published by the Public Accounts Committee?

European Union (Referendum) Bill

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Friday 8th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. He has been in the House long enough to know that the Chair is never required to explain or, as he puts it, shed light on the selection of amendments. The hon. Gentleman will have to rest content with the selection. If I were inclined to put it bluntly, I would say that he can like it or lump it.

New Clause 1

Gibraltar

‘(1) An order under section 3(2) or (3) which extends to Gibraltar may—

(a) provide for conduct to constitute a criminal offence under the law of Gibraltar;

(b) extend and apply to Gibraltar, with or without modification, the provisions of any enactment relating to referendums or elections;

(c) modify any such enactment so far as it has effect in relation to any part of the United Kingdom;

(d) modify or apply or incorporate, with or without modification, the provisions of any legislation in force in Gibraltar relating to elections, or referendums.

(2) The capacity of the Gibraltar legislature to make law in relation to any matter in relation to which provision may be made under section 3 is not affected by the existence of the power conferred by that section.

(3) Subsection (2) is not to be regarded as restricting the operation in relation to law made by the Gibraltar legislature of the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 (under which colonial laws are void if repugnant to provision made under an Act of Parliament).

(4) “Enactment”, and “modification” have the same meaning as in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (see section 160(1) of that Act).’.—(Andrew Rosindell.)

Brought up, and read the First time.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

[Mr Speaker]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment 41, in clause 2, page 1, line 18, leave out ‘and’.

Amendment 43, in clause 2, page 1, line 18, at end insert—

‘(aa) persons who have right of abode in the United Kingdom.’.

Amendment 45, in clause 2, page 1, line 18, at end insert—

‘(aa) persons who would be entitled to vote as electors in a European Parliament election.’.

Amendment 46, in clause 2, page 1, line 18, at end insert—

‘(aa) all persons who are legally entitled to vote as electors at a local government election.’.

Amendment 47, in clause 2, page 1, line 18, at end insert—

‘(aa) all British citizens resident in any of the member states of the European Union.’.

Amendment 48, in clause 2, page 1, line 19, after ‘peers’, insert ‘or prisoners’.

Amendment 8, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end add—

‘(c) British citizens, regardless of where they are resident, who have registered to vote with a British Embassy or High Commission or with the local authority where they last lived in the United Kingdom not less than six months before the date of the referendum, and the statutory provisions relating to overseas voters shall be disapplied for the purposes of this section.’.

Amendment 44, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end insert—

‘(2) Persons aged 16 or 17 on the date of the referendum shall be entitled to vote if they would, save for their age, be otherwise entitled to vote under any of the categories set out in subsection (1) above.’.

Amendment 49, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end insert—

‘(c) citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta resident in the United Kingdom shall not be entitled to vote.’.

Amendment 50, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end insert—

‘(c) residents of all Crown Dependencies.’.

Amendment 51, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end insert—

‘(c) residents of all British Overseas Territories.’.

Amendment 63, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end add—

‘(2) Provision will be made for all electors included in the Gibraltar register as defined in Schedule 1 to the Government of Gibraltar’s European Parliamentary Elections Act 2004 to vote in Gibraltar in person or by post.’.

Amendment 69, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end add—

‘(c) persons who are citizens of British Overseas Territories.’.

Amendment 80, in clause 2, page 1, line 20, at end insert ‘and

‘( ) Commonwealth citizens who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote in Gibraltar as electors at a European Parliamentary election in the combined electoral region in which Gibraltar is comprised.’.

Amendment 81, in clause 5, page 2, line 21, at beginning insert—

‘( ) This Act extends to—

(a) England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and

(b) Gibraltar.’.

Amendment 82, in line 1 after ‘Kingdom’, insert ‘and Gibraltar’.

[Andrew Rosindell]

I am proud to move new clause 1, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (James Wharton) and myself.

On 1 January 1973, the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland joined the then Common Market, the European Economic Community, as it was known at that stage, but it was not just the people of the United Kingdom who joined what is now the European Union at that point. It was also the people of the then British Crown colony of Gibraltar, now known as a British overseas territory.

As all Members of the House know, the people of the Rock of Gibraltar are deeply proud of the fact that they are one of Her Majesty’s British overseas territories. They are proud of being British and proud of being part of the British family of nations and territories, but they are also part of the European Union.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 20th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I think we will give that one a miss, because the Minister has no responsibility for the policies of the Scottish National party. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) is chuntering from a sedentary position that he has signed it, but I am not concerned with who has or has not signed it; I am concerned with the matter of ministerial responsibility. The hon. Member for Dundee West (Jim McGovern) has made his point; it is on the record, so we will move on.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

12. What her policy is on the repatriation of indigenous Australian human remains from UK cultural institutions.

Events in Northern Ireland

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 10th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I know the Secretary of State was referring to the Prime Minister. We are clear.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

The whole House agrees that the violence and intimidation taking place in Northern Ireland is totally counter-productive and undermines the very cause the protesters are protesting about. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that it is right that the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should fly above city halls, town halls and all municipal buildings throughout the United Kingdom, as it does above the British Parliament?

Business of the House

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 8th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question from the shadow Leader of the House was about Government legislation, which is why I judged it to be perfectly orderly, but, equally, it was entirely orderly for the Leader of the House to respond as he did.

Many Members wish to contribute. Let us keep it brief, and then perhaps I shall be able to accommodate all of them.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

I commend Her Majesty’s Government on making history last week by ensuring that, for the first time ever, the flags of each and every one of our British overseas territories and Crown dependencies were flown in Parliament square. The loyal subjects of those territories will be delighted that that decision has finally been made, but will the Leader of the House request a Minister to look into the possibility that our territories and dependencies could lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday? So far, they have been denied the opportunity of doing so.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Tuesday 18th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

There is just time for Mr Andrew Rosindell.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

15. What progress he has made on reducing rates of hospital-acquired infections.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 9th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful to the Minister, but may I remind those on the Treasury Bench that there are a lot of questions to get through, and that a little economy is needed in their answers?

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

12. What recent steps her Department has taken to maintain the level of biodiversity.

Points of Order

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Tuesday 19th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You will recall that on 27 July this year, I raised a point of order in the House with regard to the 20th anniversary of the murder by the IRA of the late Ian Gow, Member of Parliament for the Eastbourne constituency. I asked whether it might be possible for you, Mr Speaker, to consider a permanent memorial to Ian Gow in this House, and I wonder if today you may be in a position to update us on any progress you may have made in that respect.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order and, thankfully, I am in a position to update the House. The hon. Gentleman came to see me about this matter last week, together with the noble Lord Howe of Aberavon, in order to underline their strength of feeling on the subject and to articulate the request for some such memorial. I undertook on that occasion to the hon. Gentleman and to the noble Lord to seek to ensure that the matter was placed on the agenda for the immediately following meeting of the House of Commons Commission. I put it on the agenda, and I had the benefit of a detailed letter from the noble Lord.

The matter was considered at the House of Commons Commission meeting last night, and I am pleased to advise the House that the Commission decided unanimously that there should be a permanent memorial to the late Ian Gow, and that that would likely take the form of a plaque. That plaque would be put up in the Chamber of the House of Commons, similar to the plaque that has been long established in recognition of the distinction and terrible fate of the late Airey Neave.

I can also inform the House that the detailed discussions about what will now happen and the form that the plaque will take will get under way very speedily. I hope that Members in all parts of the House will recognise the merit of the case for such a plaque, which I know will be greatly appreciated by members of Ian Gow’s family and by a great many people besides in all parts of the United Kingdom. I hope that is helpful to the House.

Business of the House

Debate between Andrew Rosindell and John Bercow

Thursday 22nd July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. More than 30 hon. and right hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye and I would like to accommodate as many as possible, but we have a further statement to follow and heavy pressure on time. What is required is brevity, a textbook example of which will be provided by the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the Secretary of State for International Development on his announcement today that the pause on the development of the airport in St Helena will be lifted and that an airport will be built, thus securing the economic future of that British overseas territory and best value for the British taxpayer? Does he agree that an annual debate on British overseas territories would be of great benefit?